Wire splice



MAY 16, 1939- v R. A. BECKER, SR., Er AL 2,158,892

WIRE SPLlCE Filed June 22, 1936 l R b t -EBLC); s Imventors O er EC en r. L7 L7 5 Bg Sephen Becker,

n l Y MUA-m4 Gttorneg Patented May 16, 1939 PATENT OFFICE WIRE SPLICE Robert A. Becker, Sr., and Stephen P. Becker, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Stephen P. Becker, exeautorv ot Robert A. Becker, Sr., deceased, asgnors to Stephen P. Becker, Poughkeepsie,

Application June 22, 1936, Serial No. 86,599

1 Claim.

'I'his invention relates primarily to a device for connecting together the abutting ends of wires, cables, vand rods'such as employed in electrical equipment and the like where it is desired to effect a strong mechanical and electrical connection without twisting the wires or by the use of solder or welding, and providing means whereby the wires may be disconnected if desired, and the device capable of repeated use.

The device herewith shown and described constitutes an improvement over that shown and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,041,108 issued to us on May 19, 1936 for a Unit solderless wire connector', in which a two part casing was employed, and which could be assembled in dinerent combinations. g

Some of the objections encountered in the devices now in use for this purpose are, that should the end of the wire be burred by cutting or the material be soft and become bent, it is diflicult to enter it into the end of the casing and between the jaws, and any burr or high spot on the wire will prevent the full contact surface of the jaws from gripping the wire and thus a perfect hold is not obtained on the wire.

Furthermore while it is important that a one piece casing beemployed, both from the advantage of manufacture and strength, it is very desirable that some provision be made whereby the lineman may accurately determine by visual means the proper distance to insert the wire into the splice to effect a sure grip by the jaws.

It is also an important factor that the nonslip face of the jaws be of such design as to provide a sure grip with wires of various materials and degrees of hardness.

When connectors of the present design are used with stranded wires having a single wire core of harder material than the strands and the jaws grip upon the outer stranded wires, there is a tendency to slide or strip the stranded wires upon the core.

In some devices for this purpose, the inner ends of the jaws are hinged to a follower and their closing action is such that they do not always have a parallel contact with the wire, and hence do not have a perfect grip on the wire.

To overcome these and other objections in devices for this and similar purposes we have devised means simple in construction and eiectlve in operation and at a minimum cost.

The object of the invention is to provide a splice which can be readily attached to, and detached from the wires without the use of tools, solder or welding.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a recess or gap is provided for any burr uponthe end of the wire beyond the inner gripping face of the jaws.

Another object of the device is to provide a form or design of jaw face to effect a sure grip upon the wire and yet be readily released therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to assemble the jaws in such a manner that they are retained in axial alignment with the wire and yet are free to float and accommodate themselves to the wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the position of the wire with respect to the jaws may be readily seen through the casing, and also whereby water entering the casing from rain or snow will drain out.

Another object being to design a casing that can be constructed from bi-metal, such as copper covered steel tubing or Copperweld, whereby the maximum strength is' combined with the greatest conductivity.

Another object is to provide means whereby undue vibration between the wire and splice is prevented.

Another object is to provide a stepped form of jaw which may be used to retain the insuia tion upon a wire and prevent its stripping back, while the wire itself is firmly held.

With these and other objects in View, our invention consists in certain novel construction and combination of parts as will hereinafter be fully described and claimed and further illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof, and in which like figures of reference refer to corresponding parts in al1 of the views, and it is understood that slight changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of our wire splice, showing the jaws in one end in engaging relation with a wire, and the jaws in the other end in a closed position, without a wire.

Figure 2 shows a similar sectional view, but illustrates the stepped jaws in one end engaging a stranded cable, and the other end shows` the method employed in holding the jaws in a receded position to release the wire.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the device arranged to hold one wire and formed with a retaining attened end.

Figure 4 shows a detail of the stepped jaw and its mounting means.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1, to show the follower cup and method of holding the jaw members therein.

Figure 6 shows a detail of the regular type of jaw member.

Figure 7 shows a modified form of follower with the hooked ends of the jaw members in place.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Referring to the drawing: p

The device comprises a single piece tubular shell or casing I0 of ductile material or of bimetal to combine strength withA conductivity,4

and this tubular casing is drawn or swaged upon one or both ends to form an internal taper II and a nose I2.

Within this shell and extending into the internal tapered end II, are slidably mounted a set of jaw-members I3 which are provided with the tapered outer face I4 to t the internal taper II. And the inner non-slip contacting faces I5 of any desired pattern, such as sawtooth, file, or diamond, and, as shown in Figure 2 of the two different levels or steps for different diameters of cables. The rear ends of these jaw members I3 may be formed with a hook I6 as shown in Figure 2 for floating engagement within an annular groove I'I formed in a follower I8 which is slidably mounted in the casing I0, or the attaching means may be in the form of a T-shaped hook I9 which extends through a star-shaped opening 20 formed in a cup-shaped follower 2I within which is secured an inner plug I8 to retain the T-shaped hooked end I9 in place and limit its movement and thus provide a floating connection between the jawmembers I3 and the follower 2I.

It is to be noted that a space 22 `is provided between the follower 2I and the main body of the jaw members I3, the purpose of which is to form a safety zone or space for any burr 23 that may be formed on the end of the wire or cable, and which may be readily seen through the large observation opening 24 in the side of the casing I0'.

These observation openings 24 are placed upon opposite sides of the casing I0 so that the greater part of any water or snow entering the upper one will drain out oi the lower one.

The followers 2I are kept apart from each other under tension of a spring 25 mounted in the casing I0 between them, and this spring 25 may be of any suitable design.

The outer ends of the casing I0 are extended beyond the taper II to form a collar I2 close to the wire or cable to support the wire or cable and lessen vibration. The outer ends of the jaws I3 are beveled at 21 to facilitate the entering of the wire or cable.

To' release the jaws from the wire or cable, the wire or cable is pushed inwardly, carrying the jaws with it, a rod 28 is then inserted through the opening 24 and into the annular groove 29 in the follower 2I or in front of it, thus retaining the jaws in a receded position and free from the wire or cable, which may be withdrawn.

In Figure 3, the device I 0 is shown with one end attened to form. a lug 30, having an eye or bolt hole 3I for attachment to some object.

In Figure 2, a stranded cable 32 is shown having the axial core wire 33 of harder material,l and the jaws are stepped as at 34 and 35 to grip both diameters and prevent stripping of the strands 32 on the core 33.

In Figures 7 and 8, we show a cup-shaped follower 36 which is formed with three radial lugs 3l punched inward from the corner thereof to provide openings 31', and which are designed to retain the hooked end I6 of the jaw member I3 between the inner face of the bottom of said follower and the lug. The lug is also used for the spring 25 to abut against in place of the plug I8.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

For use in a device of the class described, a followerv having lugs struck therefrom to provide openings, jaw members, said members having terminal hooks adapted to engage in the 

